Saber-tooth squirrel fossil found in Argentina

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- Scientists have found a rare fossil of a previously unknown saber-toothed, squirrel-like creature in Argentina, providing new clues to how small mammals lived among dinosaurs more than 93 million years ago.

The fossil evidence shows Cronopio dentiacutus had extremely long teeth, a narrow snout and large eye sockets, meaning it probably moved around at night to be able to survive among huge carnivorous beasts in the late Cretaceous period.

In fact, the paleontologists involved say the little creature was not all that different from the prehistoric squirrel in the animated "Ice Age" movies.

The discovery published in today's edition of the science journal Nature.